Are icy roads a common winter problem in Rapid City? (dangerous, relocate to)
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Hi. Your mild winters in Rapid City (compared to ND) sure do sound inviting, and refreshing to get some "warmer" days in the 30's and 40's mixed in with the really colder days. But, with all those fluctuating temps, I was wondering if that causes problems with ice forming on the roads and making for hazardous travel? Like, say it snows a few inches one day, then the next day the temp is warm enough to melt some but not all the snow, then all that wetness on the roads freezes overnight and makes it icy and dangerous. Is that a common scenario that you Rapid City folks deal with throughout the winter? Thanks for your first-hand info. Right now, we're "on the outside looking in."
All in all, the roads in South Dakota and the Black Hills are really nothing to Complain about ceptin when you got nothing else to do. :-)
Typical it will snow and freeze and last a day or three and then start melting off. Of course, night time temps will freeze it and the roads will be slick anywhere water is running across. Also, any shady areas up in the hills. Where the trees are close to the road and the road doesn't get any sunshine, it won't warm up and those stretches will stay icy, day and night.
At times, there will be a snow that will stick for 2 or 3 week. But that seems to be less of a problem these days due to the better road equipment used to clear the snow and the bigger population driving on the pavement keeping it warmer.
Like EH said, you've nailed it on the head. The city tries to put chemical, salt, and gravel on the streets as best they can but you can't avoid all the slick spots.
EH, I'm not sure where that is but I know that coming down Highway 16 into Rapid City there is a slanted shady spot where water runs across that's always a problem in the winter. It's even slippery in the summer after a rain.
Like EH said, you've nailed it on the head. The city tries to put chemical, salt, and gravel on the streets as best they can but you can't avoid all the slick spots.
EH, I'm not sure where that is but I know that coming down Highway 16 into Rapid City there is a slanted shady spot where water runs across that's always a problem in the winter. It's even slippery in the summer after a rain.
Yeah, I'm not sure where Spots is but every time I call the Road Report it says "Slick in Spots". So I wanted to avoid that area.
Thanks for your responses. I figured the icy roads would be a common problem with the fluctuating temps. Good to know, but not a deal-breaker in considering that area to relocate to. I've always loved visiting there.
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